New research from the University of California San Diego has found one of the causes of voltage fade in lithium-rich layered oxides (LRLO). LRLO is a promising candidate as a cathode material as it can provide 50% more capacity than current alternatives. However, voltage fade reduces the energy capacity of this material over time. UC… Read more »
Author: Miles Gopie
Hyundai invests in solid-state battery materials specialist Ionic Materials
Hyundai’s venture capital division, Cradle, is investing in Massachusetts-based battery materials developer Ionic Materials. Ionic says its patented solid polymer material enables solid-state batteries that are inherently safe, high in energy density and operational at room temperature. The special properties of Ionic’s polymer electrolyte also support lithium-ion cells with little to no cobalt in their cathodes…. Read more »
Audi Hungaria begins mass production of electric motors for e-tron quattro lanuch
One of Audi’s key manufacturing plants, Audi Hungaria, has officially begun series production of electric motors. Audi’s first all-electric vehicle, the e-tron, will rely heavily on the plant’s electric motor production capacity. The new dedicated 8,500-square-meter floor space uses a modular intelligent-assembly system in order to roll out 400 electric-axle motors per day. Though this number… Read more »
Midtronics sells Stationary Power Division to focus on automotive market
In order to focus on the global transportation market, battery management specialist Midtronics has sold its Stationary Power Division (SPD) to Franklin Electric. The SPD will be combined with Franklin Electric’s Electric Grid Solutions division and will provide the same contact information for product service and support. “The divestiture of the Stationary Power Division enables us… Read more »
Ecovolta to build automated 200 MWh battery assembly plant in Switzerland
Swiss battery system and production specialist ecovolta (don’t kill us yet folks, the lowercase isn’t a typo) will build a 200 MWh battery pack assembly plant this September in the Swiss canton of Schwyz. The plant will use fully-automated processes to produce both prismatic and cylindrical batteries. The battery packs will have voltage levels ranging… Read more »
Exide and Leclanché launch JV to tackle India’s growing battery market
Exide Industries and Leclanché will participate in a joint venture aimed at providing batteries and power storage solutions for India’s EV and power grid needs. The JV will pair Leclanché’s Li-ion expertise with Exide’s brand recognition and sales network. Leclanché is a specialist in Li-ion battery production and battery management systems (BMS), while Exide is India’s… Read more »
Hydro-Québec and US Army collaborate on 5 V 1.2 Ah cell technology
Researchers from Hydro-Québec and the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) used a new high-voltage cathode to produce what they say is the world’s first 5 V, 1.2 Ah Li-ion cell. According to ARL scientists Jan Allen and Richard Jow, who published their findings in the Journal of Power Sources, the cells enable higher energy densities and improved… Read more »
Big River Steel to invest $1.2 billion in expansion, increasing electrical steel production
Steel production and recycling specialist Big River Steel will invest $1.2 billion in the expansion of its Arkansas Flex Mill facility, doubling its hot-rolled steel production capacity to 3.3 million tons per year. A key feature of this expansion will be the ability to produce higher grades of electrical steel, demand for which is expected to be… Read more »
Xalt launches expandable battery rack system, obtains DNV GL approval for marine use
Battery system specialist XALT Energy has unveiled its XRS XPAND Rack system, which combines the company’s XPAND Battery System with its proprietary battery management system (BMS). These products have received DNV GL Type Approvals, which means that they can be installed in vessels classified by maritime registrar DNV GL. The modular systems also show promise for… Read more »
ZapGo’s Carbon-Ion tech combines power density of supercapacitors and energy density of batteries
Williams Advanced Engineering has selected ZapGo, a spinout of Oxford University, to join a consortium working to develop next-generation battery systems for EVs (part of the UK government’s Faraday Battery Challenge). ZapGo’s Carbon-Ion technology, based on carbon nanomaterials including graphene, is intended to combine the power density of supercapacitors and the energy density of rechargeable… Read more »
